This Homemade Cough Syrup is a honey-spice-cider remedy that’s potent enough to calm and soothe a sore throat or cough. As I mixed up a batch for myself yesterday afternoon, I thought I’d share the recipe with you all on my website here, so you can try it for yourself!

I don’t often get sick (which I’m very thankful for), but when I do I prefer to let my body fight the illness naturally as much as possible. This winter has been a very cold one – colder than usual up here on the Gold Coast – and so the cool air would sometimes aggravate my airways, giving me a cough during the nights.

To help with this, I’ve been using this homemade cough syrup to soothe my throat and reduce the urge to cough, helping my body get much-needed rest.

I also used this remedy to help boost my immune system. For a few weeks during mid-winter we had a nasty cough going round our house. Every one of my housemates got it unfortunately, but I was fortunate enough to escape its grasp, and I owe it to this immune-boosting elixir and the daily supplements I take: vitamin C, quercetin, zinc, and vitamin D3.

Just a Spoonful of Sugar…

Conventional cough syrups can be high in sugar, and if you’ve ever taken a look at the label on the back of the bottle, you’d be amazed at the ingredients used – artificial sweeteners, preservatives, fillers, dyes… Not good. Instead, you can make your own healthy, natural, homemade version containing raw honey, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and herbs to help soothe a sore throat, settle a cough and boost immunity.

This cough syrup is to be taken three times a day; in the morning, afternoon, and before bed. You can store it in the fridge for up to a month or freeze it in small batches and defrost it when you need it.

Before we get started in learning how to make this homemade cough syrup – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!

Ingredients Used in this Natural Cough Syrup

This natural home remedy is full of healthy ingredients that work to help boost immunity and naturally soothe a sore throat.

Make sure that if you are giving this to a child that they are over one year’s old.

Here are the ingredients used in this cough medicine, and why they’ve been specifically chosen:

• Raw honey. Helpful in soothing a sore throat and stopping the cough.
• Lemon juice. Provides a healthy dose of vitamin C.
• Ground ginger. Contains expectorant properties and is a wonderful natural anti-inflammatory.
• Cinnamon. An immune-boosting spice, cinnamon contains natural antimicrobial, antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties.
• Apple cider vinegar. Full of beneficial bacteria, ACV can help boost the immune system and soothe a sore throat.
• Raw garlic. Contains the compound, Allicin, which helps kill microorganisms causing the cough, helping prevent the further development of respiratory infections.
• Organic extra virgin olive oil. May help in reducing inflammation in the throat, contains some anti-phlegm properties, and can help to coat a dry, sore throat reducing the urge to cough.

You can find most of these ingredients at your local grocery store, health food store, or online.

In his book, Eat Smarter, Shawn Stevenson cited a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study revealing how honey was able to outperform a placebo in significantly reducing the frequency and severity of coughing at night, and improve sleep quality.

Homemade Natural Cough Syrup

This all-natural DIY cough syrup may help to soothe a sore throat and ease coughing. Due to the raw honey, only use this remedy on children who are older than one (due to Clostridium bacteria that may be present). Check with your doctor before using this syrup with kids under two years old. Take this syrup three times a day; in the morning, afternoon, and before bed for best results. Give one teaspoon to children and one tablespoon to adults as needed to help relieve symptoms.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup local raw honey
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
• Small glass jar

To make:

1. Add all the ingredients to the glass jar, then place the cap on and shake thoroughly to combine the ingredients inside (do this every time you’re about to consume the syrup, as the ingredients will tend to separate).
2. Give one teaspoon to children and one tablespoon to adults for each serving. This syrup is best taken three times a day; in the morning, afternoon, and before bed.
3. Store the syrup in fridge for up to one month, or freeze it in small batches and defrost as needed.

Please note my personal experience cannot replace professional medical advice. Please check with your doctor if you’re concerned about symptoms.

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post. 

Have you made a homemade cough syrup before? How was it? Did you find it helpful? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa